Overnight IT Jobs/Careers

Well, after getting my A+ and Network + last week, I find out it doesn't matter because since we have a baby on the way and can't afford the break-the-bank daycare, I'm going to have to take an evening/overnight job.

So TechExam experts, other than help desk, what other type of jobs that can I go for? My current day job is being Sr. Desktop Support/Jr.-Intermediate Systems Administrator. My background consists of 4 years help desk and 5 years of desktop support and 1 year of Sr. Desktop Support/System Administrator.

Certs: A+, Network +, MCP, MCDST

TIA.

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Comments

chrisone

Rockets34Life wrote: »

Well, after getting my A+ and Network + last week, I find out it doesn't matter because since we have a baby on the way and can't afford the break-the-bank daycare, I'm going to have to take an evening/overnight job.

So TechExam experts, other than help desk, what other type of jobs that can I go for? My current day job is being Sr. Desktop Support/Jr.-Intermediate Systems Administrator. My background consists of 4 years help desk and 5 years of desktop support and 1 year of Sr. Desktop Support/System Administrator.

Certs: A+, Network +, MCP, MCDST

TIA.

I dont know what you mean by what other type of jobs as you can probably only obtain job roles related to your experience? Unless you plan on taking non IT related jobs, which in that case this website is not the place for this post. However i dont think the latter is the case, unless you were a network engineer you could get a job at a NOC position for an ISP or a help desk for an ISP answering late night calls.

Repo Man

Given your experience I'd try to find an all in one type job. I see quite a few places in my area that want a jack of all trades doing help desk/desktop support and minor sys admin work usually asking for a 5 -2:30 AM type shift.

Rockets34Life

Where is that, Repo Man? What's the best job site I should look on to find that jack-of-all-trades position? What is the position called so I can look for it?

All I've been aware of for evening/overnight jobs are help desk.

Mike-Mike

I would think being able to do overnight would give you more opportunities seeing as most people want a day shift

eansdad

I've seen NOC and helpdesk but back when I worked at Compaq I worked midnights. We had line people (basically building PCs on an assembly line), PC configuration and server configuration. This was as about as basic entry level as you could get.

ehnde

Datacenter or ISP that is open 24/7. Most of us hate working nights, so I hope you are able to find something

Why not bait your line, cast it out and see what bites?

Congratulations on the new baby! I remember being in your shoes....my wife (now ex-wife) and I only had one car. We both worked days. I was a transportation dispatcher (logistics) for a fortune 500 company and she was a CNA at a nursing home. Her job was 8 miles away and mine was 4.7 miles. She took the car to work (had to be there at 6am) and I carried our son 1/2 mile to his daycare. I then rode a bike to work and rode back home. She picked him up from work when she got off. We could barely afford the $425 they charged to watch our son while we worked. If you have more than one child this is pretty much impossible to afford. Hang in there.....after 5 years of this lifestyle your newborn baby will be going to school. You can make it!

Rockets34Life

Sucks I might have to go backwards in my career to entry-level crap, but it's the sacrifice I have to make....

SteveLord

Good luck. I personally can't remember the last time I saw a night position. And if I did, it was helpdesk for sure.

Admins have to sleep ya know. They just need to sleep with their blackberries taped to their head.

Turgon

Rockets34Life wrote: »

Well, after getting my A+ and Network + last week, I find out it doesn't matter because since we have a baby on the way and can't afford the break-the-bank daycare, I'm going to have to take an evening/overnight job.

So TechExam experts, other than help desk, what other type of jobs that can I go for? My current day job is being Sr. Desktop Support/Jr.-Intermediate Systems Administrator. My background consists of 4 years help desk and 5 years of desktop support and 1 year of Sr. Desktop Support/System Administrator.

Certs: A+, Network +, MCP, MCDST

TIA.

Suggest you try a NOC job. Are you looking for a second job for extra income or to work the evening so you can help with the family during the day?

Rockets34Life

I don't have enough experience to work at the NOC. I could do a Computer Ops position, but I haven't worked with batch jobs/print jobs.

No, got to put my career on hold and save on daycare to take care of my soon-to-be born baby in March.

TheSuperRuski

Rockets34Life wrote: »

I don't have enough experience to work at the NOC. I could do a Computer Ops position, but I haven't worked with batch jobs/print jobs.

No, got to put my career on hold and save on daycare to take care of my soon-to-be born baby in March.

I am in the same boat as you. My son(now 4 months) prompt me to use OnForce for some extra income. Unfortunately most of the work is during the days and the week but I've seen some night and weekend jobs. You can look into those types of opportunity to supplement your income.

mikej412

Rockets34Life wrote: »

I don't have enough experience to work at the NOC.

But you were able to navigate on the Internet, find TE, register, and create a post that was understandable.

That alone probably makes you over qualified for a lot of the low level NOC jobs.

NOC jobs can vary. Some places will have System Engineers and Network Engineers just waiting around for something to need fixin'. Other places have people that sit around and watch a computer screen (or listen for a beep) and call the right person when they see an alert pop up (or hear a beep).

MentholMoose

mikej412 wrote: »

NOC jobs can vary. Some places will have System Engineers and Network Engineers just waiting around for something to need fixin'. Other places have people that sit around and watch a computer screen (or listen for a beep) and call the right person when they see an alert pop up (or hear a beep).

+1
NOC personnel perform all sorts of duties, so don't assume that a "network operations center" only handles network issues. For example, if you are working as a junior systems admin, you can look into NOC jobs at dot coms or web hosting firms, since they have server guys on site in their data center 24/7.

Also if you are really considering a job downgrade to save on daycare costs, a possible alternative is a sideways move to a company that has on site daycare. Usually it will be cheaper than daycare elsewhere, and it is easy to drop off and pick up your kid since it is at your workplace.

Turgon

Rockets34Life wrote: »

I don't have enough experience to work at the NOC. I could do a Computer Ops position, but I haven't worked with batch jobs/print jobs.

No, got to put my career on hold and save on daycare to take care of my soon-to-be born baby in March.

Will your wife will be returning to work during the day at some point in the future or will you be the sole breadwinner for a long time to come? If you read Mike's post I agree with him, there are plenty of NOC type jobs out there you could do overnight which free up your time to help your wife with the baby during the day. They may fit in socially as well because a lot of latenight NOC shifts are quite easy going leaving you with reserves in the tank for when you are needed at home. You will have to get some sleep at some point in the day but that should be ok with a newborn child, at least for spells.

Rockets34Life

Wife and I are about the same. Once I hit the evening/overnights, she'll be it.

NOC jobs are hard to come by. I might have to be on the Computer Operations side instead of networking. I'm guessing it depends on what kind of background they need on the networking side. My sleep is going to be off again (done overnights before on help desk), but as long as I can save on daycare and take care of the baby, I will do it.

Anonymouse

I worked graveyard shifts for the past year. Don't do it, man. One of my coworkers had a newborn and another on the way. He barely ever slept 'cause he was either working or with his fam. This past year that I worked overnight my health was the worst it had ever been my whole life. Not exaggerating. I was sick every few weeks. Always exhausted. Don't!

citinerd

I work third shift at a Hospital doing Desktop Support. Look for places that would have the need for 24/7 coverage. I would stay in the IT field at all cost.

NickDog

I would look at a NOC position. I work at a NOC and most everybody that works here is new to IT professionally. Don't sell yourself short just because you don't "think" you have the skills. We pretty much just monitor and escalate as well as handle server installs and make LOTS of cable. We also handle batch print jobs which are easy as apple (or cherry) pie. Its also nice, because we have plenty of time to study for other certs while we are here. Whatever you choose, good luck!

Psoasman

Anonymouse wrote: »

I worked graveyard shifts for the past year. Don't do it, man. One of my coworkers had a newborn and another on the way. He barely ever slept 'cause he was either working or with his fam. This past year that I worked overnight my health was the worst it had ever been my whole life. Not exaggerating. I was sick every few weeks. Always exhausted. Don't!

I did the same thing last year when our 2nd. son was born. trying to sleep during the day, do full-time school, and get time with family is tough.

mikedisd2

phoeneous wrote: »

In the end, it makes you realize what you really work for. I wouldn't care if I was picking up trash or flipping burgers as long as my family has food to eat and a roof over their heads.

I bet you would. Merely surviving with a tedious, soul-crushing job sucks. We all need fulfillment in what we do with our lives.

ibcritn

Rockets34Life wrote: »

Wife and I are about the same. Once I hit the evening/overnights, she'll be it.

NOC jobs are hard to come by. I might have to be on the Computer Operations side instead of networking. I'm guessing it depends on what kind of background they need on the networking side. My sleep is going to be off again (done overnights before on help desk), but as long as I can save on daycare and take care of the baby, I will do it.

As soon as I got CCENT I pretty much got TONS of people looking to put me in a NOC role just because I had CCENT...so I suggest this cert could really help if you are looking to move into a NOC role...many were overnight.

That and IDS guys typically support 24/7 operations and you can try to break into that, but that would be harder than a NOC role.

ehnde

ibcritn wrote: »

As soon as I got CCENT I pretty much got TONS of people looking to put me in a NOC role just because I had CCENT...so I suggest this cert could really help if you are looking to move into a NOC role...many were overnight.

That and IDS guys typically support 24/7 operations and you can try to break into that, but that would be harder than a NOC role.

Do you just know people or what? That really caught my attention. First I've heard of CCENT by itself being worth something.

blargoe

I really wonder if you'll be any better off taking an entry-level-ish overnight NOC job, for probably less pay, than having a better job during the day for more money but having to pay for day care.

Mike-Mike

mikedisd2 wrote: »

I bet you would. Merely surviving with a tedious, soul-crushing job sucks. We all need fulfillment in what we do with our lives.

I really agree with this.... granted, you're life can be awesome in other areas, but having a job you really hate sucks the life out of you, it really does

Turgon

blargoe wrote: »

I really wonder if you'll be any better off taking an entry-level-ish overnight NOC job, for probably less pay, than having a better job during the day for more money but having to pay for day care.

Im curious too. To the OP what options do you have there?